Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program

Hornstein alumni find employment in a wide variety of Jewish communal institutions, both well-established and "start-ups". They include federations, JCCs, synagogues, family foundations, Jewish education settings, camps and Hillels. Hornstein boasts an exemplary job placement rate and has a supportive alumni network in North America and beyond. Learn more about the impact of Hornstein's network here. 

Hornstein offers three types of learning modalities:

1. The on-campus dual degree program, a residential, full-time program where students can earn an MA in Jewish Professional Leadership alongside an MBA, an EdM, an MPP or an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Credits vary depending on the dual degree program, and all programs can be completed within 21 months of study
2. The online master's certificate, a streamlined four-course, 12-credit program for Jewish professionals seeking the foundational building block in Jewish communal leadership. This program is offered in conjunction with Brandeis Online, the university's vibrant and diverse online learning community of working professionals.
3. The online MA in Jewish Professional Leadership, a 34-credit, part-time program designed for professionals in Jewish or secular nonprofit spheres who seek foundational and advanced knowledge and skills to become more effective Jewish communal leaders. This program is also offered in conjunction with Brandeis Online.

Whether you're interested in Hornstein on-campus or online, you do not need to  take the GRE exam.

If you would like to strengthen your application to the dual-degree program, you may consider taking the GRE and submitting your scores. However, your application will receive full consideration even if you are unable to take the exam. For more information about the GRE, call 609-771-7670 or visit the website. The Brandeis code is 3092; no department code is necessary. For more information about the GMAT, call 609-771-7330, 800-462-8669 or visit the website. The Brandeis school code is 3FD-1Z-02.

Students in the dual-degree program may choose to do field work over the summer and/or during the academic year. Students choosing the summer option have gone as far as Israel, Canada and California. For others wishing to stay in the area over the summer or during the academic year, Boston offers a wide range of dynamic organizations such as federations, JCCs, Hillels, community relations organizations, camping institutions, synagogues and educational institutions. 

For online students: please review the Brandeis Online international applicants page and contact online@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8787 with any questions. 

For on-campus, dual-degree students: Yes. There are special procedures related to admissions for international students as well as specific U.S. government regulations and policies concerning entry into the country and student conduct while here. 

To assist international students before and after arrival on campus, Brandeis University's International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is available to help.

International applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an English-speaking institution within an English-speaking country must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic). Test scores should not be more than two years old.

The GSAS TOEFL school code is 3261. Students who have graduated from a university in the following English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand) are exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE requirement. Minimum scores for each exam are:

• 600 (paper-based TOEFL)
• 250 (computer-based TOEFL)
• 100 (Internet-based TOEFL)
• 7 (IELTS)
• 68 (PTE)

You may submit a photocopy of your score report to expedite the review of your application, but an official report sent directly from ETS, IELTS or PTE must be received to finalize any offer of admission.

For both dual degree and online cohorts, the size of an incoming Hornstein class is, on average, 10-12 students. Hornstein prides itself on fostering a pluralistic community and embraces any level of Judaic knowledge.

Students come to Hornstein from a variety of professional and religious backgrounds. Some dual-degree students enter the program with little professional experience, while others, perhaps pursuing a career change, enter later in life. Online students are generally working professionals at a variety of career levels.

Hornstein students take four to five classes a semester and participate in numerous co-curricular activities, many of which the students plan themselves. Classes are chosen with the student's Hornstein faculty advisor.

Course offerings

Please see our tuition page for the most up-to-date information regarding program cost and scholarship opportunities. We are proud to offer generous scholarship packages to both online and on-campus students.

Additionally, online students may be eligible for discounted tuition via our employee partnership program. 

In general, Brandeis University does not provide on-campus housing for graduate students. There is housing for international students on a limited basis. Typically, students live in various communities around Boston, depending on their needs and financial constraints. Some popular areas include Brookline, Brighton, Cambridge, Allston, Somerville, Watertown and Waltham. Please see the Office of Graduate Affairs for more information and house-hunting resources. 

You may also find the other resources helpful, though please note that they are not affiliated with the University in any way:

• Boston Jews - Apartments/Housing/Roommates (Facebook Group)

• Jump Off Campus

• Roommates.com

• Craigslist Boston

• Boston Apartments

• Apartmentlist.com

• RentLingo

• HousingList.com

Yes. Many Hornstein students have part-time jobs while pursuing their dual degree, often at local synagogues, area Jewish agencies, or on campus. However, students should consider carefully the rigors of course work, field experience, travel and co-curricular activities before taking on the additional commitment of paid employment. Generally, we do not recommend that students work more than 10 hours per week.

Students interested in on-campus employment opportunities should visit the Brandeis Student Financial Services Job Opportunities webpage. Additionally, the Hornstein Office often receives postings from synagogues and other organizations which we post over the summer and throughout the year. Finally, if you are an international student, special regulations apply. Please visit the Brandeis International Students and Scholars Office website for more information.